DINNER PLATE – PERSONAL SERVICE – KÖNIG GEORG – SAXONY

SKU: 20-187

$695.00

This is a simply gorgeous example of a dinner plate from the personal service of Saxony’s König Georg (1832-1904). Georg served as the Kronprinz under his brother König Albert. Georg held the throne of Saxony from 1902 until his death in 1904. The dinner plate measures 9 1/5″ in diameter. The plate features a scalloped trim on its edge. Red and gold trim goes around its edges and further in toward its center. His crowned royal cypher sits at the plate’s top. The plate’s reverse carries a hallmark for the noted firm Meissen.

Description

This is a simply gorgeous example of a dinner plate from the personal service of Saxony’s König Georg (1832-1904). Georg served as the Kronprinz under his brother König Albert. Georg held the throne of Saxony from 1902 until his death in 1904. The dinner plate measures 9 1/5″ in diameter. The plate features a scalloped trim on its edge. Red and gold trim goes around its edges and further in toward its center. His crowned royal cypher sits at the plate’s top. The plate’s reverse carries a hallmark for the noted firm Meissen.

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Here is a simply stunning royal “Bon Bon” jar from Berlin’s fabled court jeweler J. Godet & Söhne’s workshops, which Kaiser Wilhelm II gifted to some fortunate recipient. Royal gifts from Kaiser Wilhelm II came in a wide variety of types. Any gift given by the Kaiser was significant. Highly-prized when initially given, they are even more avidly sought out by today’s collectors. The gifts range from jewelry (stickpins, cigarette cases, watches, brooches, etc.) to various other personal items. Today we are offering an unusual glass “Bon Bon” jar. In its time, the squat glass jar would have been a table or desk accessory. The jar measures 5 5/8” at its greatest width, 3 7/8” in diameter at the top, and 3 5/8” in diameter at the base. Its base displays a fine rayed design. Etched into the jar’s side we see “Wilhelm II Deutscher Kaiser und König von Preussen.” Fitted to the jar’s top is a fine-silver and leather-covered lid. Affixed to the center of the lid’s leather background is an ultra-high-quality silver Hohenzollern Eagle that measures 1 ½” x 2.” Its side is hallmarked “J. Godet – .950.” [Berlin’s J. Godet & Söhne was one of the Kaiser and the royal family’s better-known court jewelers, among the likes of Gebrüder Friedlander, Wagner & Söhne, etc. These firms specialized in orders and decorations, as well as assorted silver and gold gifts]. The jar’s workmanship and overall condition is first-rate. Filled with any number of items, or displayed as is, it will make a striking addition to any collection.

PRESENTATION SILVER DESK NOTE BOOK AND PAPER PAD TO PRINZ ALFONS OF BAVARIA

SKU: 20-106

$1,550.00

Often we feel like Prinz Alfons is an “old friend” of ours. Over time we have been pleased to offer a number of his personal items on our pages. Among these items have been his General der Kavallerie pickelhaube complete with the dress parade feathers, as well as the storage boxes for his helmet and the parade feathers. We have also had a few offbeat items, such as one of his ultra-well-made, high-quality, leather valises, which came from a luggage merchant in Switzerland. We currently are offering a that once belonged to him. Alfons was born on 24 January 1862 and died on 8 January 1933. Although he was a general in the Bavarian cavalry, he was not a true front-line commander, as were some members of German royalty. He was actually better-known in the field of science and mathematics. He was honored in 1905 by being named the Regimental Chef and patron of 7. Chevaulegers-Regiment Prinz Alfons. This was a great tribute to him by the Prinz Regent and the War Ministry. Today we are offering a superb, high-grade silver note book and pad that was presented to him on the occasion of his 70th birthday. This would have been 24 January 1932, which was a little less than a year before he passed away. This magnificent desk piece was presented to him by the officers, medical staff and veterinarians of “his” regiment. The case, which measures 6 3/8″ x 4 1/4,” is engraved at the case top with his Royal Cypher. Below reads the following dedication: “Ihrem Durchlauchitigsten Regimentsinhaber ZUM 70. Geburtstage In Alter Unwandelbarer Treue Und Verehrung Die Offiziere, Sanitäts, Und Veterinäroffiziere Des K. B. Chevaulegers – Regiments “Prinz Alfons.” This piece is both jeweler and .925 silver hallmarked. Opening up the cover of the note pad, we see that virtually the entire pad of original paper is in place! I do not know the circumstances of Alfons’ health at the time. It is entirely possible that with less than one more year to live, he had little occasion to use this magnificent presentation piece. As one would expect, the caliber of this piece is stunning. Even nearly fifteen years after the war’s end [the monarchy’s end as well(!)], Alfons’ former officers still respected him enough to want to buy the best. Until you claim this item, it will reside on my desk. I can tell you that it looks splendid sitting near my computer monitor. I am sure it would look equally as appealing next to yours. Perhaps you can find some refills for the paper pads, and YOU can work like a Prince!

PATRIOTIC PIECE – FULL-COLOR GLASS – KAISER WILHELM I

SKU: 20-297

$75.00

I have examined this item for several minutes trying to categorize it for you. The best that I have come up with it is that it is a patriotic display item commemorating Germany’s first Kaiser, Wilhelm I (1797-1888). In addition to being Kaiser, he was also Prussia’s King from 1861 until his death in 1888. He assumed Prussia’s throne in 1861 when his older brother König Friedrich Wilhelm IV (1795-1861) died. Wilhelm IV was paralyzed and mentally incapacitated by a stroke in 1857. In 1858 Wilhelm I assumed the position of Regent for his older brother and remained in this position until the King’s death in 1861. He continued his brother’s policy of German unification, which was largely completed with the conclusion of the 1866 Austro-Prussian War. Through all this and for the balance of his rule until his 1888 death, his closest advisor and political ally was none other than the “Iron Chancellor,” Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898). While Wilhelm I remained King of Prussia, the other German states deferred to Prussian rule. After the 1870-1871 Franco-Prussian War’s end, he was formally recognized as Emperor of Germany, as well as King of Prussia. Wilhelm I remained the political and moral head of Germany, and was much beloved by his people. Upon his death in March 1888, he was succeeded for ninety-nine days by his son, Germany’s second Kaiser, Friedrich III. Friedrich III was in ill health and died of cancer in June 1888. The third and final Kaiser of Germany, Friedrich III’s son and Wilhelm I’s grandson was Wilhelm II. He ruled Germany from June 1888 until November 1918. As a part of the German surrender following WW I’s end, Wilhelm II agreed to exile in the Netherlands. The House of Hohenzollern, which extended back to Frederick the Great’s time, no longer ruled Germany. Returning to our offering, we have a circular piece that measures 1 1/2″ in diameter. Its gold-toned frame might be brass, or some other non magnetic material. What I believe is a glass panel is inside the frame. A full color likeness of Kaiser Wilhelm I is painted on the panel. He is wearing a full dress uniform complete with a generalfeldmarschall’s epaulettes. On the uniform we see a large medal bar with numerous decorations. He is also wearing the Goldene Kette of the Order of the Black Eagle. The Kette was a large and elaborate collar or oversized neck device. It was made of gold and placed over his neck. It hung down making a very impressive device that was the ultimate expression of being a House of Hohenzollern Prince. Princes were invested with it, and it could only be worn by a born-of-the-blood Prince on state occasions. Certain decorations from the “Black Eagle” decoration family were awarded to very favored individuals at the pleasure of the House of Hohenzollern’s head member. The Black Eagle was proximately displayed on general officers’ headdresses and was a central theme of the headdresses of officers, NCO’s, and enlisted men from the various Garde-Regiments, General Staff, etc. Also on Wilhelm I’s neck in this presentation is the Orden Pour le Mérite. This patriotic item is two-sided so the image may be seen on both sides. The image is somewhat faded and less than what it looked like when it was created more than one-hundred-years ago. Scratches and discoloration of the glass itself are evident. The entire feel is that it shows honest age. I have not seen anything quite like this. Other than being a patriotic piece, I do not know how to explain it. One might also think of it as table medal, but even that is not a correct assessment.

About Us

I'm Kenneth (Ken) J. Greenfield, currently of New Port Richey, Florida, located on the West Coast of Florida in the Tampa Bay area. I started out as a collector of Imperial German Militaria, particularly items dealing with the Imperial German Air Service in the early 1960's. After more than forty years of avid collecting, I began to sell a few items to upgrade my collection and help finance my collecting "habit." I attended militaria shows, both to buy and sell. I wanted to spend more time at home and less traveling for the national companies that I had worked for; so, starting my own business seemed like an attractive alternative. I like nothing better than talking with others about militaria, and introducing newcomers to the joys of owning a "piece of history."